The Legend of The Boggy Creek Monster

 The Boggy Creek Monster is a territorial cryptic being roaming the sulfur flats of

Texarkana Arkansas. The creature has never proven to exist but has numerous accounts predating

in the early 1900’s. Though the being has never been proven to exist the locals believe in the

monster, and many encounters unexplainable phenomena. According to the article “Fouke

Monster” by Amy Thompson, Sightings were reported before the “Legend of Boggy Creek”

(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068837/), the movie describing the Ford family’s encounter with

the creature, causing more sightings to be reported from locals and tourists alike after its release.

Stories between hunters in the region vary, yet they all give about the same interactions

with the creature. According to the article “The Fouke Monster” by Jim Powell, The Monster

was around seven feet tall, while having a chest three feet across. Tracks were also discovered

believed to belong to the creature shown to have three toes instead of the traditional five. This

differentiated the Monster of Boggy Creek from its look like the Sasquatch. Another

distinguishing feature is the creature’s red eyes. Elizabeth Ford stated, “The creature's eyes

looked like coals of a fire…Real red.”. Bobby Ford, Elizabeth’s husband, ran after the creature shooting it seven times before it ran into the woods. There were no signs of blood from the

creature. When Bobby returned to the house, he was climbing the front steps when the creature

attacked him from behind as stated in “The Boggy Creek Monster” by B., Dunning. The news of

the attack spread bringing The Boggy Creek Monster to headlines in the area. This caused the

locals to have an uptick in sightings in the area. Grabbing the attention of local movie producers.

This uptick in public interest in this creature caught the attention of a beginner filmmaker.

He went on to create “The Legend of Boggy Creek” Filling drive-in theatres all around to get a

glimpse of the Ford family’s supposed encounter. The movie made 22 million in revenue and

grabbed the attention and imagination of millions. This brought what the locals would say as

unwanted attention to Fouke. Though some of the locals used this to their advantage, according

to “The Legend of Boggy Creek” by Nbj914. The locals opened shops and museums to profit

from the creature’s existence. These shops were run by locals who believe they have had

encounters with the creature themselves as demonstrated by “Searching for The Boggy Creek

Monster” by Austin Gelder. 

Works Cited

“Image of The Boggy Creek Monster.” Artist Depiction. Midwest Weirdfest. Retrieved 11 Oct.

2024, https://www.midwestweirdfest.com/boggy-creekmonster/

mnf55z55kfndfanqhxcigen9dx39gv.

Dunning, B. "The Boggy Creek Monster." Skeptoid Podcast. Skeptoid Media, 4 Mar 2014. Web.

27, Oct 2024. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4404.

Powell Jim, "The Fouke Monster: A look at how the media recorded the reports of the 1971

alleged sighting of a large creature in rural Miller County, Ark." Texarkana Gazette.

archived from the original on 3 August 2003, retrieved October 30th, 2024.

Thompson, Amy M. “Fouke Monster.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas, 31 Oct. 2024.

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/fouke-monster-2212/.

Nbj914, “The Legend of Boggy Creek.” Edited by SemiruralYeti, valerielea1980, northwoods63,

Obscurities, Martain, and delmonstro. Atlas Obsura, posted 12 October 2012.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/boggy-creek-monster.

Gelder, Austin. “Searching for the Boggy Creek Monster.” Arkansas Blog, 6 Oct. 2021.

https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2021/10/06/searching-for-the-boggy-creek-monster,

retrieved 31 Oct. 2024.

Further references

Dunning, B. "The Boggy Creek Monster." Skeptoid Podcast. Skeptoid Media, 4 Mar 2014. Web.

27, Oct 2024. https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4404.

The article described Elizabeth Ford’s chilling encounter with the Boggy Creek Monster while

resting in her Arkansas home. The article describes the terrifying encounters that the two

newlywed couples had experienced.

Powell Jim, "The Fouke Monster: A look at how the media recorded the reports of the 1971

alleged sighting of a large creature in rural Miller County, Ark." Texarkana Gazette.

archived from the original on 3 August 2003, retrieved October 30th, 2024.

This article is a newspaper describing the accounts of the attacks on residents and their exact

recounts. The paper stated the locals’ offering rewards for whoever could hunt down the monster.

Thompson, Amy M. “Fouke Monster.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas, 31 Oct. 2024.

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/fouke-monster-2212/.

This article goes into detail on similar attacks on locals as the Ford family, involving sightings by

locals and deaths believed to have been caused by the creature. This article involves the sheriff’s

point of view on the situation and his personal beliefs on the monster based on the state of the

victims.

Nbj914, “The Legend of Boggy Creek.” Edited by SemiruralYeti, valerielea1980, northwoods63,

Obscurities, Martain, and delmonstro. Atlas Obsura, posted 12 October 2012.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/boggy-creek-monster.

This article states the sightings prior to the Ford family’s attacks and the local use to popularize

the monster for profit. The purpose is to inform the reader of the local effects and the further

history of The Boggy Creek Monster.

Gelder, Austin. “Searching for the Boggy Creek Monster.” Arkansas Blog, 6 Oct. 2021.

https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2021/10/06/searching-for-the-boggy-creek-monster,

retrieved 31 Oct. 2024.

This article goes into detail of the hands-on accounts of locals that are skeptical though their

accounts reforged their perspectives. This article details the hunt for the monster in early

September, a man with his son turn to locals after no luck and inspect the evidence from the

locals.

“Image of The Boggy Creek Monster.” Artist Depiction. Midwest Weirdfest. Retrieved 11 Oct.

2024, https://www.midwestweirdfest.com/boggy-creekmonster/

mnf55z55kfndfanqhxcigen9dx39gv.

Miller County’s Bigfoot: The Boggy Creek Monster

 Jennie Overstreet

Many people who live in the area surrounding Miller County, Arkansas claim to have seen a large, man-like monster. This cryptid is known as the Boggy Creek Monster. Cryptid is defined by the Merriam-webster dictionary to be “an animal that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist” According to the article “Fouke Monster” by Amy Thompson, sightings of this creature date back to 1946. 

The Boggy Creek 

Monster

The Boggy Creek Monster, also known as the Fouke Monster, is a cryptid very similar in appearance to the more well-known bigfoot. According to Jake Carter in his article “The Monster of Boggy Creek: The Real Story of the Fouke Monster,” it was described to be a hominid-shaped furry creature that was 7 to 10 feet tall with a chest 3 feet wide. It has been reported to have large red eyes and a terrible odor. 

Sightings of the Boggy Creek Monster are all in the swamplands of southwest Arkansas. Its alternate name of “Fouke Monster” is derived from an encounter in 1971, where it attacked the home of Bobby Ford in the small town of Fouke. During the month of May, he said he had been out with his hunting friends when they saw the creature behind the Ford’s house. They shot at it, and claimed to have seen it fall, but as the group made their way toward the creature, they heard a woman scream. Bobby Ford immediately ran to the front door, where he was allegedly grabbed by the Fouke Monster. He was treated at a local hospital for scratches and minor shock. When his property was investigated, there was damage to the house and three-toed footprints, but not a trace of blood.

At least three movies were made with inspiration from this encounter. According to Jake Carter’s article, the first movie The Legend of Boggy Creek was made in 1973 and grossed over 22 million dollars. Many eyewitnesses played as actors in the movie. The two other movies made after this were called Return to Boggy Creek and The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II.

Many people have tried to explain the existence of the Boggy Creek Monster. Some have tried arguing that it is really a misidentified bigfoot, despite the footprints of the creature having only three toes versus Bigfoot’s five-toed tracks. Others have claimed that sightings of the cryptid are just misidentified black bears. The Boggy Creek Monster has captivated public attention since attacking the Ford’s home in 1971, with sightings dating back much further. Movies have been made focusing on the cryptid, sharing its existence across the country. Many have attempted to debunk the creature’s existence as a misidentified black bear or bigfoot, but the Fouke Monster continued to keep its identity.

Works Cited:

Carter, Jake. “The Monster of Boggy Creek: The Real Story of the Fouke Monster.” anomalien. 29 Aug. 2020. https://anomalien.com/the-monster-of-boggy-creek-the-real-story-of-the-fouke-monster/. Accessed 20, Oct. 2023.

Mobley, Andrew. “'That's no deer': Fouke Monster legend haunts swamplands of southwest Arkansas with new alleged evidence.” KATV Little Rock/Pine Bluff, 21 Oct. 2023. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/that-s-no-deer-fouke-monster-legend-haunts-swamplands-of-southwest-arkansas-with-new-alleged-evidence/ar-AA1iCVmp. Accessed 23 Oct. 2023.

Thompson, Amy. “Fouke Monster.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas. 16 Jun. 2023. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/fouke-monster-2212/. Accessed 20, Oct. 2023.

“Cryptid, N.” Merriam-webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cryptid. Accessed 29 Oct. 2023.

Bigfoot. 29 Aug. 2022. anomalien, https://anomalien.com/the-monster-of-boggy-creek-the-real-story-of-the-fouke-monster/.

For Further Reference:

Carter, Jake. “The Monster of Boggy Creek: The Real Story of the Fouke Monster.” anomalien. 29 Aug. 2020. https://anomalien.com/the-monster-of-boggy-creek-the-real-story-of-the-fouke-monster/. Accessed 20, Oct. 2023. Jake Carter explains various topics of information about the Boggy Creek monster. The article goes on to talk about the history of the creature, its potential appearance, and the effects that sightings of this creature had on media. The purpose of this article is to discuss a variety of topics on the monster, from its origins to the movies inspired by it.

Mobley, Andrew. “'That's no deer': Fouke Monster legend haunts swamplands of southwest Arkansas with new alleged evidence.” KATV Little Rock/Pine Bluff, 21 Oct. 2023. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/that-s-no-deer-fouke-monster-legend-haunts-swamplands-of-southwest-arkansas-with-new-alleged-evidence/ar-AA1iCVmp. Accessed 23 Oct. 2023. Andrew Mobley describes some general information about the Boggy Creek Monster. The article focuses on first-hand encounters with various people.

Thompson, Amy. “Fouke Monster.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas. 16 Jun. 2023. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/fouke-monster-2212/. Accessed 20, Oct. 2023. Amy Thompson describes some information on the Boggy Creek Monster that stalks the small town of Fouke, Arkansas. The article focuses on one incident in 1971 where the creature was reported to have attacked the house of Bobby Ford. There is also a short mention of a movie that was made with inspiration from this encounter.

The Appearance of the Clearwater Monster

Author: B. Holt

“30+ Things to do in Clearwater Beach"

 In 1948, random, strange footprints began to appear on Clearwater Beach in Clearwater, Florida. It was said that the footprints appeared to be 14 inches long and 11 inches wide with only three toes. The people of the small town were confused and bewildered by the appearance of the footprints. After a year passed, the “monster” began to start a path. The pathway started on Clearwater Beach, but the monster’s footprints ended up in Indian Rocks, Sarasota, St Petersburg, and Courtney Campbell Causeway. One night, in 1949, according to an article written by Rick Spillman called, “Old-Three Toes- The Giant Penguin of Clearwater Beach, Florida” stated that the monster went on a 100-mile rampage, knocking over lifeguard stands and leaving feathers or “something unearthly.”

"Remember the Clearwater Monster? Its Having a Moment."

It wasn’t very long before people started filing reports claiming that they saw the monster. An article by Lenny Flank entitled “The Clearwater Beach Monster” stated that a local couple saw a “15-foot, bird-like, creature floating in the water”. Another report from Flank’s article stated that another couple “encountered a large, hairy creature with a head like a rhinoceros.” Another report of the creature from the article said the creature looked like a “wild boar.” 

No one knew what this creature could possibly be. That’s where Ivan T. Sanderson, came into play. Sanderson was a well-known zoologist who gave an expert opinion on the monster.  Sanderson state that the monster was a pre-historic, giant penguin. In an article about the Clearwater Monster by James Felton called, “The Giant Penguin Hoax That Fooled Florida for 10 Whole Years” stated that Sanderson ruled that a hoax was very unlikely and the tracks couldn’t have been hand-made. Ever since Sanderson ruled that a hoax was unlikely, the monster caught the attention of the world and the monster was basically a celebrity. 

A Reddit post by Ivan Zlax entitled “The Clearwater Monster” stated that the monster was a hoax and was revealed 40 years later. You’re probably thinking, how was this monster with several different sightings a hoax? Well, local pranksters and employees at an auto repair store, Tony Signorini and his boss Al Williams ended up admitting decades later that they were the Clearwater Monster. In another article by Jefferey Scott called, “Clearwater’s Giant Penguin Mystery” explained that Signorini and Williams made the tracks with iron castings and would leave imprints on the wet sand. 

Even though Signorini and Williams admitted to being the Clearwater Monster, according to that same article by Jeffery Scott, there were people saying they saw the monster standing in the tracks imprinted on the beach. So, I guess some things are still unexplained.

To show you that the Clearwater Monster was actually compared to a giant penguin, in 2007, a student at North Carolina State University named Julia Clarke described the fossils of the giant penguin as a monster. It was stated that the giant penguin was supposedly “1.5 meters tall and weighed the same as a human.” No modern creature or penguin is that large, so it would have to had existed millions of years ago. The Clearwater Monster and the giant penguin share a lot of similarities, such as their size, they both have three toes, and had feathers or bird-like structures. Also, a paleontologist named Leigh Love actually discover the fossils of the giant penguin. Researchers say that these enormous penguins were probably evolved in Palaeocene epoch, which was 56-66 million years ago. There have also been multiple fossils of similar giant penguin such as, the Crossvailla species which was found in New Zealand.

“The Oldest Fossilized Giant Penguin” 

Works Cited:

“30+ Things to do in Clearwater Beach”, GuidedbyDestiny 5 October. 2022, https://www.guidedbydestiny.com/your-ultimate-guide-to-clearwater-beach-activities/

Spilman, Rick. “Old Three Toes- The Giant Penguin of Clearwater Beach, Florida.” Oldsaltblog. September.20.2020. http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2020/09/old-three-toes-the-giant-penguin-of-clearwater-beach-florida/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

Scott, Jeffery. “Clearwater’s Giant Penguin Mystery.” Florida Zone Blogspot. April.3.2014. http://floridazone.blogspot.com/2014/04/clearwaters-giant-penguin-mystery.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2022.

Felton, James. “The Giant Penguin Hoax That Fooled Florida for 10 Whole Years.” Iflscience. August. 24. 2022. https://www.iflscience.com/the-giant-penguin-hoax-that-fooled-florida-for-ten-whole-years-65020. Accessed Oct 17. 2022.

Flank, Lenny. “The Clearwater Beach Monster.” LennyFlankWordPress. January. 13. 2022. https://lennyflank.wordpress.com/2022/01/13/the-clearwater-beach-monster/. Accessed on October 18. 2022.

Klinkenberg, Jeff. “Remember the Clearwater Monster? Its Having a Moment”, Tampa Bay Times, 5 January. 2021, https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/01/05/remember-the-clearwater-monster-its-having-a-moment/

“The Oldest Fossilized Giant Penguin”, Geologyin, Accessed on 26 October.2022, https://www.geologyin.com/2017/02/the-oldest-fossilized-giant-penguin.html  

Zlax, Ivan. “The Clearwater Monster.” Reddit. October.22.2021. https://www.reddit.com/r/forgeryreplicafiction/comments/qdk1qs/the_clearwater_monster/. Accessed on October 18^th. 2022.

Links for Further Research:

Love, Leigh. “Human Sized Fossils Found in New Zealand.” The Guardian. August.14.2019. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/14/human-sized-penguin-fossil-discovered-in-new-zealand. Accessed on October 26, 2022

Clarke, Julia. “Discovery of Giant Penguins Shakes Theories on March of Evolution.” The Age. June.27.2007. https://www.theage.com.au/world/discovery-of-giant-penguins-shakes-theories-on-march-of-evolution-20070627-ge57ym.html. Accessed on October 26, 2022.

Nessie: The Tale of the Loch Ness Monster

Kayla Reeves

 

The Lake of Loch Ness. (Kate and Tom’s Blog

Our society is filled with legends, mysteries, fable, and fear for the unknown. From the Chupacobra to Big Foot to the Loch Ness Monster. Everyone knows of the mysteries, but who knows the truthes behind these mythical beings? Though the very first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster date back 1,500 years ago, it has been the most wanted legend of the lake of LOCH NESS, since its first news debut on May 2, 1933. The creature really rose to fame when a 20,000 pound bounty was placed for its capture. This cryptid, a term used by cryptozoologists; or people who search or study animals whose existence is unknown, has been a lifetime winner of hide and seek.

The Loch Ness Monster has been “spotted” many times, the first in 1933 by Mr. and Ms. John Mackay. The couple explained that as they were driving along the road nearest the Loch they noticed a large creature rolling and rodding up and down against the water before it soon plunged into the deep waters of the lake. Soon after this, the world went in a craze and people were in a sure urge to discover this mythical creature. This led to people going to any and all lengths to “create” images of the cryptid, such as the infamous Surgeon’s photo of 1934.

Taken by Robert Kenneth Wilson, 1934

In April of 1960, Tim Dinsdale was able to capture what was supposedly a video of the cryptid after his six-day monster-hunt. Tim described the creature to be large mahogany, oval shaped with a dark spot on its side. With four minutes of filming, it was suspected to seem like the creature was waving a diamond shaped fin as it swam towards the shore, and slowly moving back away and plunging into the deep waters from where it first came. “Evidence” such as this video give more and more individuals more hope to find the legend and prove its reality.
 With all of the scientific and just everyday research people have done to find the truth behind this legend, there have been many stories, television shows and even movies about the Loch Ness Monster. In Scooby-Doo! And the Loch Ness Monster, the group of teenagers who travel all over solving mysteries, travel to Loch Ness of Scotland to vast Daphne’s Scottish ancestors’ home. As they are visiting, they are informed by Daphne’s cousin of the first annual Highland Games as well as how the Loch Ness Monster has been terrorizing them. Throughout the movie, the group experiences many peculiar things happening because of the Loch Ness Monster and soon enough are led to believe it to be a real creature. Towards the end of the movie, it is not only one Loch Ness Monster, but two. It is revealed that the both of the terrorizing monsters were merely a puppet and a submarine operated by two brothers of the town as a prank. In the final scene, Scooby-Doo spots what looks like the real Loch Ness Monster swimming in the lake.

 Scooby-Doo! And the Loch Ness Monster.

 With all the many movies and television shows such as this giving clues and hope that the Loch Ness Monster may be real, there could only be one way for everyone else to know for sure, REAL FACTS. I myself do think the Loch Ness Monster is real and don’t need any real evidence to clear my mind. It would be nice to have someone find the pure truth behind it all, but until then I will continue to believe in the possible myth.

Works Cited:
• “Loch Ness Monster Sighted.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, LLC. n.d. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Lyons, Stephen. ‘The Legend of Loch Ness.” Pbs.org. NOVA. 12 Jan 1999. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Lafrance, Adrienne. “Google Joins the Search for the Loch Ness Monster.” Theatlantic.com. the Atlantic Monthly Group. 20 April 2015. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• “The Loch Ness Monster.” Dictionary of the Unexplained. Ed. Una McGovern. London: Chambers Harrap, 2007. Credo Reference. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Loch Ness.Photograph. Kateandtoms.com. 31 July 2014. Web. 18 Oct 2015.
• “Loch Ness Monster.” Brewer’s dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Ed. Susie Dent. London: Chambers Harrap, 2012. Credo Reference. Web. 9 Oct 2015.
• Robert Kenneth Wilson. Photograph. The Loch Ness Monster. “Surgeon’s Photograph.” 1934. Web. 18 Oct 2015.

Links for Further Research:
• Surgeon’s Photograph
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/scotland/11545298/Loch-Ness-Monster-50-fascinating-facts.html
This article talks about 50 facts about the Loch Ness Monster and the Surgeon’s Photograph.
• Scooby-Doo! And the Loch Ness Monster (Movie)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418141/
This video is an example of the myths behind the Loch Ness Monster and how people will go to the many lengths to create a different version of it.
• Loch Ness Monster Mystery Solvedhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/loch-ness-monster-mystery-solved-6079792
This talks about someone thinking they have solved the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster.

“Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster

Author:  Lawren Black

Original art by Fireberd904

“Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster? The Abominable Snowman?  Bigfoot?  Many don’t believe these exist but for those that do believe are known as Cryptozoologists. Cryptozoologists study these types of creatures because their existence is yet to be proven scientifically.  One of the more famous Cryptids that has been around a long time and is known around the world is “Nessie”, the Loch Ness Monster.  Pictures of Nessie have surfaced and some evidence has been collected, but no real scientific evidence has brought Nessie justice of being real.

 Living under the 24 mile long, one mile wide, 974 feet deep fresh water lake, Loch Ness, in Scotland is the famous “Nessie.”  Nessie has been around since the sixth century, but it wasn’t until 1933 when Mr. and Mrs. John Mackay reported a sighting that swept through the media internationally. Their sighting was published in the local newspaper, Inverness Courier.

Loch Ness in Highland, Scotland (NationalGeographic)

According to two articles, Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained, the appearance of Nessie is said to be a cross between a long-necked prehistoric time creature, Plesiosaur, and a seal.  Nessie real identity is yet to be discovered.  Many pictures only show Nessie as a hump or a “trunk-like” feature sticking out of the water.  Paleontologist Neil Clark even believes that “the monster was perhaps a padding pachyderm.” (National Geographic)  Clark saw many similarities between the two that made him come to believe that they are similar.

Painting by Neil Clark

While on a six-day monster hunt in 1960, Tim Dinsdale shot a four minute long film of what appeared to be a huge creature in the loch.  Dinsdale, who wanted to know more about the unknown creature, sent his film to be analyzed by JARIC, Royal Air Force Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre.  JARIC analyzed the film and concluded that the hump was 12-16 feet long and had a cross section that was at least five feet high and six feet wide.  JARIC also came to the conclusion that the unknown creature moved at a speed of seven to ten miles per hour and that “…it probably is an animate object” and a part of a living creature instead of a surface craft or submarine. (Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained)

In the summer of 1972, Dr. Robert Rines and his team traveled to Urquhart Bay and used sonar and under-water cameras to try and catch evidence of a lake monster.  Their trip turned successful when the sonar equipment and cameras caught a “thing”, 20-30 feet long and 400 pounds, moving through the water. This “thing” had a diamond shaped flippers, roughly six feet long that were attached to its body.

In December of 1975, Ornithologist Sir Peter Scott unofficially named the monster Nessiteras Rhombopteryx.  The name was taken to mean “Ness monster with the diamond shaped fin,” but later was proven to be an anagram that meant ‘monster hoax by Sir Peter Scott.’ (Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable)

The legend of Nessie has been around for many years and will stay around for many more years.  Until factual evidence of the existence of Nessie comes into play Nessie will forever remain a legend.  So what do you believe? Is Nessie real or not? 

Works cited:

Fireberd904. The Loch Ness Monster. 2010. Digital Art. Deviantart.com. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Kristof, Emory. Scotland Photos. n.d. Photo. nationalgeographic.com. Highland, Scotland. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

Clark, Neil. Loch Ness Monster an Elephant? n.d. Painting. Nationalgeographic.com. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

"Loch Ness Monster." Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. London: Chambers Harrap, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 11 October 2013. 

"The Loch Ness Monster." Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained. London: Chambers Harrap, 2007. Credo Reference. Web. 11 October 2013.

Lyons, Stephen. “The Legend of Loch Ness.” Pbs.org. NOVA, 12 Jan. 1999. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

Links for further research :

PBS NOVA http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/legend-loch-ness.html
The article gives us history of the Loch Ness Monster legend, along with some searches for the monster in the past.

LEGEND OF NESSIE http://www.nessie.co.uk/htm/about_loch_ness/nessgeo.html

This article gives a geological view of the Loch Ness in Highland, Scotland along with surrounding areas.

Rodrigues, Joao. “National Geographic- The Truth Behind The Loch Ness Monster [FULL].” youtube.com. YouTube. 18 Nov. 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.

This video is providing us with the truth behind the Loch Ness Monster.

The Wendigo

Author: Jakovia Adams

The wendigo (also known as windigo, weendigo, windago, waindigo, windiga, witiko, wihtikow, and numerous other names) is a demonic spirit believed by Algonquin-based Native American tribes to possess humans and turn them into cannibals. The term "Wendigo” is used to describe an evil spirit as well as a creature that humans can become when possessed by the spirit (Kingaton). Many legends and stories have circulated over the years about a mysterious creature that was encountered by hunters and campers in the forests. 

The Wendigo

 The Wendigo legend was prevalent in the northern United States, Northern Minnesota and Canada, and particularly roamed around woods and forests in the coldest areas where food was scarce and survival was challenging. But, Kenora, Canada is the place most known for its Wendigo sightings (Colombo). In one variation of the story, the creature could only be seen if it faced the witness head-on, because it was so thin that it could not be seen from the side. Though all of the descriptions of the creature vary slightly, the Wendigo is generally said to have glowing eyes, long yellowed fangs and overly long tongues. Most have a sallow, yellowish skin but others are said to be matted with hair. They are tall and lanky and are driven by a horrible hunger. The spirit was said to have a big appetite for human flesh and the many forest dwellers who disappeared over the years were said to be victims of the monster. “They’re hundreds of years old. Each one was once a man. Sometimes an Indian, other times a frontiersman or a miner or a hunter.” (Colombo)

According to lore, the Wendigo is created whenever a human resorts to cannibalism. During some harsh winter a guy finds himself starving, cut off from supplies or help he becomes a cannibal to survive, eating other members of his tribe or camp(Haden). Cultures all over the world believe that eating human flesh gives a person certain abilities such as speed, strength, and immortality. If you eat enough of it, over years, you become this less than human thing. Wendigos are said to be very hard to kill. The Wendigo have few weakness, as far as weapons are concerned it can only be killed by iron, steel and silver. The most gruesome method of disposal is by shattering the creature’s ice heart with a silver stake and then dismembering the body with a silver axe(Kingston).

Works Cited:

Colombo, John. Windigo: An Anthology of Fact and Fantastic Fiction. Canda. Modern Press.        1936. Print.

Haden, Blackman. The Wendigo: The North Woods of Minnesota. prairieghosts.com. Troy             

Taylor. 2002. 17 October 2012.

Kingston, W.H.G. “Adventures among the Indians.” Pararesearshers.org. John W. Lovell  company.1888.Web. 12 October 2012.

Medals, Henry. Wendigo. Photograph. http://monster.wikia.com/wiki/Wendigo, 22 February 2010. Web. 17 October 2012.

Links for further research:

http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/10278

This article gives information about the Wendigo and also talks about people giving speeches about the creature.

http://dinojoe.8m.com/crypto/windigo.html

This website gives you more insight on the Windigo

http://www.wyrdology.com/cryptozoology/wendigo.html

This website compares the Wendigo to other creatures like Bigfoot.